NEW DELHI: Protests can bring people together around a grievance, but what happens when the agitation itself becomes a source of division? RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed this question in his Vijayadashami speech in Nagpur on Tuesday, saying that movements were inevitable in a democracy but should focus on resolving problems rather than deepening social divisions.
His remarks come as India has seen protests over the NEET-UG paper leak and, more recently, demonstrations over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the Opposition demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
“Problems will remain. There will be agitations because of these problems, and in a democracy, agitations are inevitable. But what should agitations be for? They should be for solutions,” Bhagwat said.
The RSS chief said the responsibility for ensuring that protests did not create hostility or divisions rested with all sides, including groups leading agitations, the government and administration, and political leaders.
“Whatever the intensity of our emotions, there are limits to our actions under the Constitution and the law. There are also limits set by the norms of civilised public conduct in our speech and behaviour. We must ensure that our actions remain within these limits,” he said.
Bhagwat also spoke about the West, alleging that forces seeking to weaken India were using various means to create instability and influence developments within the country.
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